The FBI search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago home

Special counsel in Trump cases vows independent judgment
ERIC TUCKER and MICHAEL BALSAMO
Fri, November 18, 2022 at 11:41 AM

WASHINGTON (AP) — The newly named special counsel picked to lead investigations related to Donald Trump says he plans to conduct the probes “independently and in the best traditions of the Department of Justice.”

Jack Smith said Friday in a statement released by the Justice Department that the pace of the investigations won't pause or flag under his watch. He is also vowing to exercise independent judgment.

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Smith's appointment Friday to oversee investigations into the presence of classified information at Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, as well as into efforts to undo the 2020 presidential election

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland named a special counsel on Friday to oversee the Justice Department's investigation into the presence of classified documents at former President Donald Trump's Florida estate as well as key aspects of a separate probe involving the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and efforts to undo the 2020 election.

The move, announced just three days after Trump formally launched his 2024 candidacy, is a recognition of the unmistakable political implications of two investigations that involve not only a former president but also a current White House hopeful.

Garland said Friday that Trump’s announcement of his presidential candidacy and President Joe Biden’s likely 2024 run were factors in his decision to appoint Jack Smith, a veteran prosecutor, to be the special counsel. Garland said the appointment would allow prosecutors to continue their work “indisputably guided” only by the facts and the law.

“The Department of Justice has long recognized that in certain extraordinary cases, it is in the public’s interest to appoint a special prosecutor to independently manage an investigation and prosecution,” Garland said from the Justice Department's podium. “Based on recent developments, including the former president’s announcement that he is a candidate for president in the next election and the sitting president’s stated intention to be a candidate as well, I have concluded that it is in the public interest to appoint a special counsel.”

Though the appointment installs a new supervisor atop the probes — both of which are expected to accelerate now that the midterm elections are over — the special counsel will still report to Garland, who has ultimate say of whether to bring charges.

Smith, a veteran prosecutor who led the Justice Department's public integrity section in Washington and who later served as the acting chief federal prosecutor in Nashville, Tennessee, during the Obama administration, is set to begin his work “immediately,” Garland said. Smith has also been the chief prosecutor for the special court in the Hague that is tasked with investigating international war crimes.

The Justice Department described Smith as a registered independent, an effort to blunt any attack of perceived political bias. Trump is a Republican, and Biden is a Democrat.

“Throughout his career, Jack Smith has built a reputation as an impartial and determined prosecutor who leads teams with energy and focus to follow the facts wherever they lead,” Garland said. “As special counsel, he will exercise independent prosecutorial judgment to decide whether charges should be brought.”

“The extraordinary circumstances here demand it," Garland said of the appointment.

The special counsel's probe will combine the investigation into “whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election” and the investigation into the classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

Garland said he would ensure the special counsel receives the resources to do the work “quickly and completely.”

Representatives for Trump did not immediately return messages seeking comment, and Biden ignored questions shouted by reporters about the appointment.

The decision to appoint a special counsel may still raise questions with members of Congress. Garland has spoken repeatedly of his singular focus on the facts, the evidence and the law in the Justice Department's decision-making and of his determination to restore political independence to the agency following the tumultuous years of the Trump administration.

And there does not seem to be an obvious conflict like the one that prompted the last appointment of a special counsel to handle Trump-related investigations. The Trump Justice Department named former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead the investigation into potential coordination between Russia and the Trump 2016 presidential campaign.

DOJ Expected To Indict Donald Trump In Mar-A-Lago Probe: Report
Martin Walsh, May 24, 2023

The U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly expected to indict former President Donald Trump for alleged mishandling of classified materials in the Mar-a-Lago probe.

“Special Counsel Jack Smith has all but finished obtaining testimony and other evidence in his criminal investigation into whether former President Donald Trump mishandled classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago resort, according to people familiar with the matter,” The Wall Street Journal reported.

“Some of Trump’s close associates are bracing for his indictment and anticipate being able to fundraise off a prosecution, people in the former president’s circle said, as clashes within the Trump legal team have led to the departure of a key lawyer. In recent weeks prosecutors working for Smith have completed interviews with nearly every employee at Trump’s Florida home, from top political aides to maids and maintenance staff, the people said. Prosecutors have pressed witnesses—some in multiple rounds of testimony—on questions that appeared to home in on specific elements Smith’s team would need to show to prove a crime, including those that speak to Trump’s intentions, and questions aimed at undermining potential defenses Trump could raise, they said,” the outlet added.

Last week, multiple sources familiar with the investigation into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort reported that prosecutors for Special Counsel Jack Smith have been inquiring about the handling of surveillance footage after the Trump Organization received a subpoena for it last summer.

CNN noted in an exclusive that, in recent weeks, there have been further grand jury subpoenas issued to top Trump employees in response to concerns about how the organization handled the footage and responded to the Justice Department’s request for it.

Calamari Sr., the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Trump Organization, where he has primarily been responsible for overseeing security operations for Trump and his properties. His son serves as the Director of Security for the Trump Organization, CNN reported.

Thursday’s scheduled grand jury hearing represents another significant development in Jack Smith’s investigation, as it involves securing the testimony of some of Trump’s closest allies as potential witnesses against him, the report claimed.

The surveillance footage is believed to be a crucial component of the Justice Department’s investigation into the potential mishandling of classified records at Trump’s Florida beach club after he left office, as well as possible obstruction of justice, CNN added.

A previous report from CNN indicated that the surveillance footage captured an aide named Walt Nauta, who is known to be close to the former president, along with another Mar-a-Lago employee, moving boxes filled with documents out of a storage closet.

The report noted further:

The Calamaris are among several witnesses expected to testify in Smith’s investigation on Thursday, sources said. Prosecutors have previously brought in lower-level Trump employees for questioning about the surveillance footage, including how it may have been handled in response to the subpoena for it and if it could have been tampered with, two sources told CNN this week.

Investigators also have previously asked about a text message from Nauta to Calamari Sr. and subsequent conversations about the surveillance footage, according to two of the sources. The Justice Department questioned Nauta months ago about the handling of the boxes, and he told the FBI about being directed by Trump, CNN previously reported.

The FBI raided Trump’s Florida estate in August after the Justice Department claimed he was not cooperating regarding the potential return of classified documents.

The following month, an attorney for Trump poured cold water on releasing any security footage of the FBI searching Mar-a-Lago.

A special master was appointed by a federal judge to examine documents seized by the FBI during a raid on Mar-a-Lago.

Former chief federal Judge Raymond Dearie, appointed by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon in September 2022, directed attorneys for Trump and the Justice Department to come to New York City for a “preliminary conference.”

Lawyers for the two parties were asked to submit “proposed agenda items” to discuss by a date established during the same month, the outlet added.

FBI officials said agents recovered around 100 items marked as ‘classified’ during the raid, though Trump has said he previously declassified everything in his possession before leaving office per his authority as president.

Investigation Into Trump’s Classified Docs Expected To Heat Up This Week
By Cullen McCue, June 4, 2023

The federal grand jury that has been hearing evidence in the Biden Justice Department’s investigation into former President Trump’s handling of classified documents is expected to meet this week in Washington, NBC News reported. Prosecutors working for special counsel Jack Smith have been presenting the grand jury with witness testimony and other evidence for months, though activity appears to have slowed in recent weeks.

It is unclear at this time whether prosecutors are prepared to seek an indictment at this time. Additionally, the Justice Department has not issued any comment on the status of the investigation.

According to the report from NBC News, the investigation revolves around two legal questions. Prosecutors are investigating whether Trump wrongfully retained classified documents after he left the White House and whether he “obstructed” the government’s efforts to retrieve them.

In June 2022, federal agents raided the former president’s Mar-A-Lago estate in order to retrieve classified documents. Trump’s lawyers had been in touch with the National Archives at the time, though Merrick Garland opted to sign off on the raid anyway.

Federal agents later recovered roughly 300 classified documents. Trump’s attorneys have stated that White House staff had “simply swept all documents from the President’s desk and other areas into boxes,” when explaining how the documents ended in in Florida.

Trump has dismissed the investigation as a politically motivated smear campaign, pointing to President Biden’s own issues with handling of classified documents. Dozens of classified documents were recovered from a former office of the Penn-Biden Center in Philadelphia and Biden’s Delaware property.

Former Vice President Mike Pence was also found to have been in possession of classified documents, at which point he notified the DOJ. The Justice Department announced that Pence would not face charges in connection with the case.

If Smith opts to charge Trump, it will be the first time a former president has been indicted with a federal crime.

BREAKING: DOJ Tells Trump He Will ‘Likely’ Be Indicted Next Week; Here’s What We Know
By Chris, June 7, 2023 | Updated:June 8, 2023

Multiple sources have revealed that federal prosecutors have informed Donald Trump that he is currently being targeted as a criminal and is highly likely to face imminent indictment.

The investigation revolves around alleged mishandling of classified documents. Notably, the Justice Department has chosen not to postpone filing charges to allow for a thorough examination of the witness tampering allegations put forth by Trump’s legal team.

Insiders familiar with the matter have informed Just the News that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has chosen not to postpone the forthcoming indictment of Donald Trump, despite allegations that a senior prosecutor involved in the case attempted to sway a crucial witness by discussing a potential federal judgeship with the witness’s attorney.

Trump would be charged with “gathering, transmitting or losing” national defense documents if officially indicted, the Post Millennial reports.

These specific allegations are currently under review in a sealed case presided over by Chief U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg, who has jurisdiction over the federal court in Washington, D.C., and the grand juries convened within that courthouse. According to the sources, Special Counsel Jack Smith has been diligently preparing a historic federal indictment against the 45th president, which could be presented to a federal grand jury as early as this week.

Trump’s legal team has reportedly been building their defense strategy for an extended period, following extensive legal research in anticipation of potential charges. The legal counsel for the 2024 presidential hopeful is ready to put forth the argument that, during his tenure as president, Trump had the Constitutional authority to declassify documents and retain them after his term concluded.

“How can the Department of Justice possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong, when no other presidents were charged?” Trump wrote on Monday.

The central focus of the investigation is the discovery of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence, in August 2022. The Special Counsel is also probing potential obstruction of attempts to recover these records



Trump’s attorneys have been steadfast in their assertion that the former President is being treated unfairly. While grand jury proceedings have slowed down, indicating a possible wind-down of the investigation, sources have suggested that a charging decision could be forthcoming.

On Monday morning, attorneys for the former President were seen entering the Justice Department, marking a critical juncture in the ongoing investigation led by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The investigation into his classified documents held at his Mar-a-Lago home has been heating up over the last couple of weeks.

Trump’s legal team, comprised of John Rowley, James Trusty, and Lindsey Halligan, remained at the Justice Department for almost two hours, sparking speculation about the nature of their discussions and the direction of the investigation into the former President’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.

All three are extremely experienced lawyers. Rowley and Trusty are both former federal prosecutors with a focus on white-collar crime, while Halligan, a partner in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale East offices of the Property Group, has handled cases involving various types of property claims. All three have gained significant attention for their involvement in the legal proceedings surrounding Trump.

Before a scheduled visit by the FBI and a federal prosecutor to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in June 2022, Trump’s staff moved boxes, the contents of which are unclear. This movement of the boxes was reportedly preceded by a ‘dress rehearsal’ for the visit. In August of the same year, the FBI arrived unannounced at Mar-a-Lago with a search warrant and retrieved allegedly classified documents. Trump was not informed about this August search, which he has repeatedly referred to as a “raid”.

Signed Letter by President Trump Reveals He Declassified Docs on Obama Regime Spying on Him the Day Before He Left Office

https://billingsreport.com/signed-letter-by-president-trump-reveals-he-declassified-docs-on-obama-regime-spying-on-him-the-day-before-he-left-office/

BREAKING: Donald Trump Indicted, To Appear In Court On Tuesday
By Chris. June 8, 2023 | Updated:June 8, 2023

In an unexpected announcement Thursday afternoon, former President Donald Trump disclosed on his social media platform Truth Social that he has been indicted and is due to appear in a federal courthouse in Miami at 3 PM on Tuesday. He vehemently denied any wrongdoing, alleging political corruption within the Biden Administration and voiced his conviction as an innocent man.

In his posts, Trump drew attention to what he referred to as the “Boxes Hoax.” Trump pointed out the double standard, explaining that Joe Biden has an extensive collection of boxes housed at various locations.

“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote in his first post. “Joe Biden has 1850 boxes at the University of Delaware, additional boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor.”



In his subsequent post, Trump confirmed his scheduled court appearance, expressing his disbelief that a former President could be placed in such a situation. The former President also highlighted his strong polling numbers, despite his legal issues, leading all candidates for the 2024 Presidential election.

“I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election,” he declared.



In a final post, the former president characterized the indictment as a “dark day” for America. “We are a country in serious and rapid decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!” he proclaimed. The central focus of the investigation is the discovery of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s Florida residence, in August 2022. The Special Counsel was also probing potential obstruction of attempts to recover the Mar-a-Lago records.



Trump’s legal team has yet to publicly comment on the indictment, but the development is certain to spark intense attention in the coming days as we await further details.

Less than a day ago, news spread that a potential indictment was impending for the former president. At the time, however, Trump adamantly denied any notification of the indictment.

POSTS FROM WEDNESDAY:





On Monday morning, attorneys for the former President were seen entering the Justice Department, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, marking a possible hint in the investigation. Trump’s legal team, comprised of John Rowley, James Trusty, and Lindsey Halligan, remained at the Justice Department for almost two hours. All three are extremely experienced lawyers.

Rowley and Trusty are both former federal prosecutors with a focus on white-collar crime, while Halligan, a partner in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale East offices of the Property Group, has handled cases involving various types of property claims.

The legal team has reportedly been building their defense strategy for an extended period, following extensive legal research in anticipation of potential charges. The legal counsel for the 2024 presidential hopeful is ready to put forth the argument that, during his tenure as president, Trump had the Constitutional authority to declassify documents and retain them after his term concluded.

Biden’s AG Garland’s DOJ Has Trump Facing Possible 100 Years in Prison
Martin Walsh, June 9, 2023

The maximum prison sentence for former President Donald Trump is astronomical when all of the counts against him are added together.

Trump announced late on Thursday that he has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges connected to his handling of classified materials that were found at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida last August.

If Trump is convicted of the seven charges against him, he could face as much as 100 years in prison.

“The former president faces at least seven charges, sources tell ABC News, which include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations,” ABC News reported.

“Maximum sentences for the respective charges, per their statutes, range from five up to 20 years, although any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” the outlet added.

“Any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” ABC noted in its report.

In a series of posts on his Truth Social, Trump said he has been summoned to federal court on Tuesday in Miami.

“The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax, even though Joe Biden has 1850 Boxes at the University of Delaware, additional Boxes in Chinatown, D.C., with even more Boxes at the University of Pennsylvania, and documents strewn all over his garage floor where he parks his Corvette, and which is “secured” by only a garage door that is paper thin, and open much of the time,” he wrote.

“Page 2: I have been summoned to appear at the Federal Courthouse in Miami on Tuesday, at 3 PM. I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States, who received far more votes than any sitting President in the History of our Country, and is currently leading, by far, all Candidates, both Democrat and Republican, in Polls of the 2024 Presidential Election. I AM AN INNOCENT MAN!” he added.

“Page 3: This is indeed a DARK DAY for the United States of America. We are a Country in serious and rapid Decline, but together we will Make America Great Again!” Trump added in his final post.

Soon after the news broke, Fox News’ Mark Levin sounded off on the indictment against Trump.

“President Trump is 76 years old. If the Department of Justice gets its way, he will die in federal prison. Just by one of these counts – conspiracy to obstruct justice, which has a 20-year maximum sentence. This is a disgusting, disgusting mark on American history, for the future to come by these bandits in the White House, by the Democrat party. They don’t play fair anymore,” Levin declared.

“They want to take control of the country,” he continued. “They want one-party rule. And they have used the Department of Justice and the FBI to get what they want. Merrick Garland is a mob lawyer. That’s what he is. Jack Reed [sic] rogue, Soviet-style prosecutor.”

Levin called the special counsel a “jerk” and scoffed at claims that Garland has been “walled off” from the investigation into Trump.

“He made the decision to indict the former president and they made the decision to interfere in this election!” Levin continued. “You wanna talk about an insurrection?! This! Is! An insurrection! And that’s exactly what’s going on here!

Levin rounded out his comments by calling President Joe Biden “the crookedest crook that’s ever been in the Oval Office.”

Trump’s attorney provided an update late on Thursday night on what she anticipates the next steps will be in the indictment and arraignment.

During an interview on Fox News, Trump’s attorney Alina Habba spoke about an announcement from Trump that he has been indicted by the DOJ on charges connected to his handling of classified materials.

“Donald Trump is owned by no one, so it makes him the biggest threat to the corrupt system we have now,” Habba said. “When your name is Donald Trump… you are going to get indicted until you can’t take it anymore.”

How Trump's GOP rivals reacted to his indictment in classified documents case
Dylan Stableford·Senior Writer | YAHOOnews
Fri, June 9, 2023 at 8:59 AM MDT

Several of Donald Trump’s rivals in the race for the 2024 Republican nomination were quick to respond to the news that the former president has been indicted on charges stemming from the Justice Department’s investigation into his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago and his alleged efforts to obstruct the probe.

Trump, who in April became the first former U.S. president ever to be charged with a crime, in an alleged money case at the New York state level, is now the first to be indicted on federal charges. He is the current frontrunner in the GOP primary.

Here is what some of the other candidates in the race had to say about the indictment.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

“The weaponization of federal law enforcement represents a mortal threat to a free society,” DeSantis tweeted. “We have for years witnessed an uneven application of the law depending upon political affiliation. Why so zealous in pursuing Trump yet so passive about Hillary or Hunter? The DeSantis administration will bring accountability to the DOJ, excise political bias and end weaponization once and for all.”

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

“We don’t get our news from Trump’s Truth Social account,” Christie tweeted. “Let’s see what the facts are when any possible indictment is released. As I have said before, no one is above the law, no matter how much they wish they were. We will have more to say when the facts are revealed.”

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson

“With the news that Donald Trump has been indicted for the second time, our country finds itself in a position that weakens our democracy,” Hutchinson said in a statement. “Donald Trump's actions — from his willful disregard for the Constitution to his disrespect for the rule of law — should not define our nation or the Republican Party. This is a sad day for our country. While Donald Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence, the ongoing criminal proceedings will be a major distraction. This reaffirms the need for Donald Trump to respect the office and end his campaign.”

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.

"One thing that makes America the city on the hill is confidence in our justice system," Scott said on Fox News Thursday night. "And today what we see is a justice system where the scales are weighted. That seems to be the outcome of where we are today. As president of the United States I would purge all the injustices and impurities in our system so that every American can have confidence that they will be seen by the Lady of Justice with a blindfold on. That is what we need in this nation."

Vivek Ramaswamy

“We can’t have two tiers of justice: one for Trump, another for Biden,” the entrepreneur tweeted. “There are also serious legal questions about the President’s power to declassify documents and the potential illegality of the over-classification of federal documents in the first place. That’s for the courts to decide, but *we the people* decide who governs this nation. It would be much easier for me to win this election if Trump weren’t in the race, but I stand for principles over politics. I commit to pardon Trump promptly on January 20, 2025 and to restore the rule of law in our country.”

Perry Johnson

“Punishment for Espionage can be quite severe!” the Michigan businessman and longshot GOP candidate tweeted. “Every GOP candidate for President must say whether they would pardon Donald Trump!”

Absent from the discussion:

Notably, former Vice President Mike Pence and Nikki Haley, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations and ex-South Carolina governor, have yet to weigh in publicly on the indictment.

Pence did say Wednesday of the then prospective indictment: “I would just hope that there would be a way to move forward without the dramatic and drastic and divisive step of indicting a former president of the United States.”

Key takeaways from the Justice Department indictment of Donald Trump
Yahoo News
ALEXANDER NAZARYAN
Published June 9, 2023 at 2:02 PM

The Department of Justice made history on Friday, unsealing a 37-count indictment against former President Donald Trump related to his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

No other president has ever faced federal charges, let alone the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence if convicted (an aide, Walt Nauta, was also charged with helping Trump conceal records).

Trump’s first court appearance in the case is scheduled for Tuesday in Miami; a trial could begin as he is in the midst of his third presidential run. Trump currently leads the Republican field by a wide margin.

The 49-page indictment was prepared by special counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed last year by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Smith had made no public statements until a press conference Friday, at which he accused Trump of “felony violations of our national security laws, as well as participating in a conspiracy to obstruct justice."

Here’s what you need to know about his indictment.

National security risk


When he left the White House in 2021, Trump took boxes of sensitive documents with him to Mar-a-Lago, his South Florida golf resort and residence. Those documents should have been turned over to the National Archives.

Trump’s seeming inability or refusal to grasp the necessity of protecting classified information is at the heart of Smith’s case, as the indictment makes clear:

“The classified documents TRUMP stored in his boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the United States and foreign countries; United States nuclear programs; potential vulnerabilities of the United States and its allies to military attack; and plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

“The unauthorized disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the United States, foreign relations, the safety of the United States military, and human sources and the continued viability of sensitive intelligence collection methods,” it continued.

Careless storage and disclosure

The contents of a box including copies of the Washington Post is tipped onto the floor.
This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records on Dec. 7, 2021, in a storage room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (Justice Department via AP)
Smith’s indictment is all the more damning because it includes photographs of the boxes in question stacked in a Mar-a-Lago bathroom, or on a ballroom stage.

In one photograph, documents are seen spilling out of a box that has fallen over.

Trump also discussed classified materials with visitors. Smith obtained a recording of Trump talking with a visitor to his Bedminster, N.J., golf club:

TRUMP showed and described a “plan of attack” that TRUMP said was prepared for him by the Department of Defense and a senior military official. TRUMP told the individuals that the plan was “highly confidential” and “secret.” TRUMP also said, “as president Icould have declassified it, and, “Now I can't, you know, but this is still a secret.”

That recording undercuts claims that Trump did not know the documents in his possession were secret. On the contrary, he seemed to revel in that very fact.

Effort to conceal

According to the indictment, Trump tried to avoid having to turn over records even after the FBI issued a subpoena.

“Wouldn’t it be better,” he asked one of his attorneys in 2022, “if we just told them we don’t have anything here?”

Trump’s supporters have argued that his behavior was not materially different from that of other officials, including President Biden, who have been less than scrupulous in handling classified documents.

Smith, however, argued that a malicious intent was at work: “The purpose of the conspiracy was for TRUMP to keep classified documents he has taken with him from the White House and to hide and conceal them from a federal grand jury.”

What comes around...

During his 2016 campaign, Trump assailed his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, who had sent some 33,000 emails from a private email server during her time as secretary of state in the administration of President Barack Obama.

The emails inspired elaborate conspiracy theories but also seemed at the time to legitimate long-standing concerns about Clinton’s trustworthiness.

Trump promised a more competent, professional regime. “In my administration, I'm going to enforce all laws concerning the protection of classified information,” he said at an August 2016 rally. “No one will be above the law.”

In the indictment, however, Trump praised the Clinton staff member he credited with deleting Clinton’s emails.

A speedy trial?

“My office will seek a speedy trial in this matter, consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused,” Smith said at Friday’s press conference.

For now, the case has been assigned to Florida district judge Aileen Cannon, whom Trump nominated to the federal bench in 2020. Some legal observers say she should recuse herself, but it is not clear that she has any intention of doing so.

That trial could begin as Trump tries to cement his position as the Republican nominee for president in next year’s election.

Pics and video at: https://www.aol.com/news/key-takeaways-justice-department-indictment-210214773.html

Donald Trump’s lawyer says classified nuclear documents were ‘mementos’
David Millward | The Telegraph
Sun, June 11, 2023 at 4:56 PM MDT

Top secret documents which Donald Trump stored in his Mar-a-Lago resort were just “mementos” one of his lawyers said as his legal team began formulating his defence.

Alina Habba insisted he had done nothing wrong and would not take a plea deal to lower a possible prison sentence.

Mr Trump is due to appear before a Miami federal court on Tuesday to face 37 charges, including breaches of the Espionage Act.

“He would never admit guilt, because there was nothing wrong with declassifying documents,” she told Fox News Sunday, offering a possible window into the Trump camp’s court plans.

“He has every right to have classified documents that he declassified... things that are mementos, things that he has a right to take.

“So if I’m someone with documents that I have a right to have as the president who left the White House, do I want people rummaging through my personal items? No.”

It came as Bill Barr, who was Mr Trump’s attorney general, warned that if even half the indictment is true “then he’s toast”.

“Yes, he’s been a victim in the past. Yes, his adversaries have obsessively pursued him with phoney claims, and I’ve been at his side defending against them when he is a victim.”

The former president hit back at Mr Barr in a radio interview with supporter Roger Stone.

“This thing is a disgrace and virtually everybody other than a low life like Bill Barr — who I, as you know, I terminated because he was gutless, he wouldn’t do what you’re supposed to do — but everybody says this is a disgraceful indictment. It shouldn’t happen,” he said.

Fears of political violence

It came after hard-line Trump supporters mounted an angry defence of the former president, rekindling fears of political violence should he be convicted.

“If you want to get to president Trump, you are going to have to go through me, and you are going to have to go through 75 million Americans just like me,” said Kari Lake, the influential Republican who was defeated in the race to become governor of Arizona.

“And I’m going to tell you, most of us are card-carrying members of the NRA (National Rifle Association),” she added.

Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire told The Telegraph the potential for violence should not be discounted.

“I think we have to take them seriously.

“I think Kari Lake is overestimating the number of Americans who would take up arms, but there’s no doubt there are folks who would.”

“You never heard this from supporters of Ronald Reagan, who won 49 states when he was re-elected. You hear this from folks who can’t achieve their goals any other way.”

Trump leads over DeSantis

The latest polls show the indictment has not damaged Mr Trump’s standing among Republican voters.

A CBS-YouGov poll showed he still had a commanding lead over his main rival for the nomination, Florida governor Ron DeSantis with 61 per cent of Republicans saying they would back him in a primary.

But among voters as a whole, the picture was less encouraging with 48 per cent saying it was right to charge the former president – even if 47 per cent said the indictment was politically motivated.

A Morning Consult poll showed both Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis narrowly trailing Joe Biden in a presidential election.

The indictment brought by Department of Justice special counsel, Jack Smith, is widening the rift in an already divided Republican party. GOP faithful lined up on either side to defend or attack the former president on Sunday.

Lindsey Graham, South Carolina senator, described the charges as “ridiculous”.

“We live in a world where it takes four years to investigate Hunter Biden and you can go after Donald Trump in about 18 months,” he said.

“I think Donald Trump is stronger today politically than he was before.”

And Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee said as president, Mr Trump had the right to classify – or declassify – whatever he wished.

“He can put it wherever he wants, he can handle it however he wants,” he told CNN on Sunday.

Asa Hutchinson, Republican presidential candidate and Trump critic, disagreed. “We do not need to have our commander in chief of this country, not protecting our nation’s secrets,” he told CNN.

“If these allegations and probable cause have been found against any military person or any public servant that wasn’t named Donald Trump, they would have been indicted a long time ago.”

Former President Donald Trump's second indictment, annotated
By Zachary B. Wolf and Curt Merrill, CNN
Published June 9, 2023

Former President Donald Trump has survived impeachment two times, been sued repeatedly, found liable for sexual abuse, his company has been found guilty of tax evasion, and he faces a criminal trial in New York.

Now it is US v. Donald Trump.

The former president faces his first federal indictment for retention of classified documents and conspiracy with a top aide to hide them from the government and his own attorneys — a total of 37 counts.

The case pits the federal government against the man who could very well win the next election to become president once again.

The detailed indictment was signed by special counsel Jack Smith and unsealed in Florida, where Trump will eventually face trial. It marks the beginning of a legal process that will coincide with the Republican primary and the presidential campaign.

An annotated version of the indictment, along with shocking photos of boxes of classified material openly stored in a ballroom and in a bathroom at Mar-a-Lago, is below.

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2023/06/politics/annotated-trump-indictment-dg/

They're playing a game with us

Joe Biden Smirks, Refuses to Answer Questions After His Justice Department Arrests Trump (VIDEO)
By Cristina Laila Jun. 13, 2023 5:05 pm

Joe Biden on Tuesday met with Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO, to discuss the upcoming NATO Summit in Lithuania.

The meeting with Stoltenberg was postponed to Tuesday because of Joe Biden’s so-called emergency root canal procedures on Sunday and Monday.

Biden sat in his chair and smirked as his handlers shooed away reporters.

Joe Biden refused to answer any questions after his Justice Department arrested his political opponent.

Biden had his political opponent arrested on Tuesday because he stands no chance against Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

President Trump on Tuesday arrived to the Miami federal courthouse for his arraignment after he was indicted on 37 federal charges.

Trump’s aide, Walt Nauta, who was indicted along with the former president, also made an appearance in court.

Both Trump and his aide Walt Nauta were placed ‘under arrest,’ booked and fingerprinted as they awaited Tuesday’s court proceedings.

Trump was not placed in handcuffs and no mugshot was taken.

President Trump pleaded not guilty.

Meanwhile Joe Biden is smirking at reporters after he used the might of the federal government to charge and arrest his main political opponent.

Miami Judge Issues First Decision Just Hours Before Trump Arraignment
Martin Walsh, June 13, 2023

The Florida judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday will not allow cameras, phones, or electronic devices into the Miami courtroom.

“The ban was announced late on Monday by the chief judge for the Southern District of Florida, Cecilia M. Altonaga, as the time of the much-awaited appearance of the former president in court quickly approaches. Trump will be arraigned at a Miami court on Tuesday—an appearance that has posed an issue for many broadcasters and networks on how to cover the historic event,” Newsweek reported.

Altonaga wrote in the order that “on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, all cellular phones and/or electronic equipment are hereby prohibited for news reporters and other members of the media inside the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States Courthouse in Miami.”

CBS News Congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane wrote on Twitter: “There will be no photos. No video. No audio. And no journalists permitted to communicate to the outside world through phone devices (or thru any other technology) during the first ever federal arraignment of a former US President.”



Special Counsel Jack Smith has charged Trump with 37 counts related to his handling of classified documents. If he is found guilty on all counts, Trump — who is President Joe Biden’s chief rival in next year’s presidential election — could face decades in prison.

According to the indictment, Trump allegedly showed classified documents to a number of people who did not have the proper security clearances on at least two separate occasions. The DOJ alleges that both instances took place at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, N.J.

Details regarding one of the alleged instances were leaked to CNN.

The network reported on June 2 that federal prosecutors had “obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.”

Trump announced last Thursday that he had been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges connected to his handling of classified materials.

The charges “include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations,” ABC News reported.

“Maximum sentences for the respective charges, per their statutes, range from five up to 20 years, although any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” the outlet added.

“Any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” ABC noted in its report.

Jeffrey Clark, who served as an assistant attorney general in the Trump administration, said that after reading through the 49-page indictment that there is something on page three that is troubling for the prosecution.

Clark noted on Twitter that the leak to the media is grounds for having the case thrown out.

“I’m beginning to read the indictment against Trump,” he wrote. “But even three pages in, it’s clear that the leaks that preceded the indictment are far too close to what is actually being pleaded by DOJ to be a coincidence.”

“For example, in paragraph 6a on page 3, we hear about the recording of the Bedminster call, which the MSNBC’s of the world have been beating a dead horse about for quite a while based on such leaks. This means that Trump lawyers could not possibly be the source of the leaks,” Clark continued.

“Ergo, the leaks are coming from DOJ,” he said. “They must be investigated and punished. Also, this is grounds for granting a motion highlighting jury pool poisoning and dismissing the indictment before it reaches even its one-month birthday.”

He added: “All of this is so outrageous; it shocks the conscience. It’s fundamentally anti-American. Trump Witch Hunt Number … what? I’ve lost count. Let’s call it Trump Witch Hunt #99.”

Reporter Reveals What Trump Did To Jack Smith Inside Miami Courtroom: ‘Intense’
Martin Walsh, June 14, 2023

Former President Donald Trump appeared in Miami on Tuesday for his arraignment in the case brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by Biden’s Department of Justice. Trump pleaded “not guilty” through his attorneys in federal court.

The federal judge granted Trump a pretrial release with no special conditions except no contact with witnesses. Smith has charged Trump with 37 counts related to his handling of classified documents. If he is found guilty on all counts, Trump — who is President Joe Biden’s chief rival in next year’s presidential election — could face decades in prison.

Judge Goodman, who oversaw Trump’s arraignment on Tuesday, did not allow cameras, phones, or electronic devices in the Miami courtroom — but reporters relayed what they noticed while inside.

“However, there was no apparent eye contact between Trump and Smith during the day’s proceedings. Trump sat with his arms folded most of the time, talking with his lawyers occasionally. But Trump did not speak and Magistrate Judge Goodman never addressed him directly,” Fox News reported.

“Judge Goodman asked both sides if they agreed to waive the reading of the indictment, to which they agreed, so the matter got to Trump’s arraignment fairly quickly. Most of the arguments from both sides were about Trump’s contact with potential witnesses, and the defense pointed out that they don’t even have a full list of witnesses yet,” the outlet added.

CNN’s Evan Perez was also inside the courtroom and said Trump did not seem thrilled to be there.

“He had a very serious look on his face, periodically had his arms folded,” Perez said. “The former president entered the room probably about 30 or 40 minutes before the judge. We couldn’t see exactly when he entered the room because the televisions of the room that we were in were not turned on immediately, but we saw, you know, the lawyers take their seats and the former president sort of twiddling his thumbs while he waited for proceedings to take his place.”

According to the indictment, Trump allegedly showed classified documents to a number of people who did not have the proper security clearances on at least two separate occasions. The DOJ alleges that both instances took place at Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, N.J.

Details regarding one of the alleged instances were leaked to CNN.

The network reported that federal prosecutors had “obtained an audio recording of a summer 2021 meeting in which former President Donald Trump acknowledges he held onto a classified Pentagon document about a potential attack on Iran, multiple sources told CNN, undercutting his argument that he declassified everything.”

Trump announced last Thursday that he had been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice on charges connected to his handling of classified materials.

The charges “include willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record, corruptly concealing a document or record, concealing a document in a federal investigation, a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations,” ABC News reported.

“Maximum sentences for the respective charges, per their statutes, range from five up to 20 years, although any eventual sentence should Trump be convicted would likely be much lower,” the outlet added.

One of Trump’s attorneys ripped Joe Biden’s Justice Department during a Monday interview and said that her client was “100 percent” allowed to possess the classified materials he’s been indicted for having.

Christina Bobb told Newsmax that Trump’s authorization comes from the Presidential Records Act while going on to blast the way he’s been treated by the DOJ and FBI compared to President Joe Biden and Vice President Mike Pence, both of whom also had classified materials in their possession — though as vice presidents they are not covered under the same act.

“Donald Trump was 100% authorized to keep everything he kept. And it was actually the Department of Justice that actually had to return materials because they took things they were not allowed to possess and had to return them,” Bobb noted further.

“President Trump had every right to have possession of those documents. And the only statute that applies to Donald Trump on this is the Presidential Records Act 44 U.S.C. Section 2203 Alpha, which specifically says the president and only the president is the one who has authority to make this call,” she told Newsmax.

“I think their case is dead on arrival,” she predicted.